Electrode for electrolytic cells



Mar. 13, 1923. Y

' J. GERSTLE ELECTRODE FOR ELECTROLYTIC CELLS Filed July 15, 1922 silver hire INVENTOR/ Fl drv x/wm,

4 ATTORNEY JOHN eERsrLE, or

IST'ATEZU.

ENT orr c.

nayromonro, ASSIGNOR TO THE ELECTRO- CHEMICAL coarrnmr,

or DAYTON, 0310, A oonrorwrron or OHIO.

ELECTRODE. ron ELECTROLYTIC CELLS.

Application filed m 15,' 1922.' Serial no. 575,184.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN GERSTLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrodes for -Electrolytic Cells, of which the following is a specification.

The principal object of my invention is to increase the efliciency of electrolytic cells by providing therefor a cathode made of insulati'ng material that is strung with silver wire. This construction insures high current density at the cathode and non-corrosion of vthe latter.

with silverwire because silver has the property of low over voltage, which lessens the reduction of the active material in the electrolyte by nascenthydrogen.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specification and particularly. set forth in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an; end view of the upper portion of an longer than the bar 9 and turned at its outer I prefer to string the cathode electrolytic cell, partially in section, show-- corresponding 'parts.

ing how the cathode is strung with silver wire. Figure 2 is a side view of saidfcathode, with one of the anodes broken away to reveal the silver wire stringing on the oathode. Figure 3 is a view of one side of the upper portion ofthe cathode, and Figure 4 is a view of the other side of said cathode, broken away at the center, said views show- .ing how the silver wire is strung around the cathode.

Throughout the specification and drawings, similar reference characters denote Referring to the accompanying drawings for a detailed description of the form of embodiment of my invention illustratedtherein, the numeral 1 designates a cell tank preferably constructed of non-conducting material. Suitably mounted in the middle 1 portion of the cell 1 are two anodes 2, 2

preferably constructed of graphite. Projecting upwardly between and above 'the anodes 2, 2, is a cathode 3: These electrodes are preferably connected togetherby tie rods 4 and nuts 5 constructedofinsulatmg mate'- rial.- (See Figure 1).. 1

pSecure'd to the sides of the .top portion ofthe' cathode 3 by rods Gandnuts 7, are transverse barsT'8 and 9, the bar 8 being end for connection to. a bus bar (notshown) Suitably strung around the; cathode 3 from the bar 8 to the bar 9, is a silver wire '10 which is preferablyvery light. One free end of this wire is soldered or otherwise secured to the bar-8, from, which it projects I downwardly along one face of the cathode to one of a succession of notches in the lower edge of the latter. A ter passing through this notch, the wire projects upwardly along the other face of the cathode to the bar 9,;and. then along it a short distance, being soldered or otherwise suitably secured to said bar along its line of contact therewith. The wire then. projects downwardly to thenext .notch, and thence through it and upwardly along the other face of the cathode to the bar 8. The strands of the wire 10 thus alternate between the bars rovided 8 and 9 until both sides of the cathode are covered. That portion of the cathode 7 around which the wire 10 is strung is constructed of suitable insulating material that is not attacked by the solution. I The cathode '3 strung with thesilver wire 10 as above described, or in any other suitable manner, will produce a high current density. The only area on the cathode is f that presentedby the silver wire, and that area is materially less than the area on the.

density bemg desired at thecath'ode because -it lowers hydrogen reduction of the h' pochlorite. Furthermore, with the use 0 my improved cathode, lime need not be cleaned off so often since it will not stick to the cathode.

Any number of cathodes in an electrolytic 291 cell may .be. so strung with silver wire'to .105 without departing from the spirit of the in- -vention. j.

Having descriloed my invention, I clalmt;

are. I

secure the ,beforementioned results. anodes may also be strung with it if desired 1. In an electrolytic cell, aunitar streeture provided-withers electrode, an a wire elements of the structure.

2. In en-electrolytic cell, a unitary structure pro ided with members adapted to be used as anodes end a Wire strung member adapted toserve as ea'thode also secured to said unitary structure, said memberbeing insulated from the remaining conductingelements of the structure.

messes 3;, In an eleetrolytic cell, a unitary structure provided with members "adapted to be used as anodes, and 81. member strung with silver Wire adapted to serve as cathode also secured to said unitary structure, said memher being insulated from the remaining Conducting elements of the structure.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 3rd da of July, 1922;

J HN GERSTLE.

Witness: v

HewAnn S. SMITH. 

